Chargers, let Rivers throw or let him go

It’s a given that the Chargers will try to extend Philip Rivers’ contract in the offseason.

They shouldn’t bother.

Not unless they’re going to invest heavily in protecting him, first and foremost.

If you’ve read this space for even a short time, you know I have an affinity for Rivers the person and the player. He’s been this team’s best chance. He remains their great hope.

I’m honest to the point of acknowledging he’s outside the Group of Three elite quarterbacks (Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers) but believe he possesses everything it requires to lead a team to a Super Bowl title.

But he’s not doing it on his back. Or running. Or spooked.

I don’t speak for Rivers. He speaks enough for himself.

But I think I know him well enough to say he will not demand the kind of money to stay that he would probably command elsewhere. I also believe he wants to sign the final contract of his career with some assurance that he’ll not only survive but have adequate help to thrive.

The Chargers need to do a lot of things this offseason.

Corey Liuget needs some help on the defensive line. Eric Weddle (who, by the way, also has just one year left on his contract) needs yet another strong safety starting next to him. Retaining Brandon Flowers should be a priority. A dependable No.1 running back is a must. Another wide receiver, another cornerback, another few other things.

But right off, the Chargers need to see what left tackle King Dunlap wants, pay him that ransom and then find at least two new interior linemen to fit between he and D.J. Fluker.

All this is said with the knowledge of what the Chargers almost accomplished without their top two running backs and with so many centers they wore name tags and with guards who evidently wore welcome mats.

This was also going to be asserted at some point this offseason even if Rivers hadn’t been sacked a career-high seven times in Sunday’s season-ending loss to the Chiefs and if the Chargers had won and were now preparing for a playoff game.

Seven times! It was the second time in five seasons Rivers been taken down that many times and the seventh time in that span he’s been sacked at least five times. Tom Brady has been sacked five times in a game only once since 2010 and never more than that. Since ‘10, Peyton Manning has not been sacked five times in a game and been sacked four times only once. Aaron Rodgers has endured five five-sack games and one time was dropped eight times.

Why have a franchise quarterback if you’re not going to properly allow him to be one?

Rivers having never missed a start, working his 144th straight game Sunday, the second-longest active streak in the NFL, is more impressive when considering he’s played behind 31 different starting offensive linemen the past four seasons. Not a lot of All-Pros in that bunch, either. In fact, none since Kris Dielman was forced to retire after the ’11 season.

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